Share This Story!

New format, old problem: Home Run Derby needs big bats

WASHINGTON - With the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby less than two weeks away, the assembling of rosters for the showcase is looking like a derby in itself. While Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo

WASHINGTON - With the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby less than two weeks away, the assembling of rosters for the showcase is looking like a derby in itself.

While Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is already on board for the National League, the rest of the spots for the NL are up in the air. Then all of the American League spots, except for Jose Bautista's captain seat, are to be determined.

Sluggers Jose Abreu and Mike Trout, currently first and eighth respectively in the AL home run race, appear doubtful to join the show, Trout expressing both his desire and misgivings about participating.

There are a number of reasons why hitters may be reluctant to join in. Some believe the derby - July 14 at Minnesota's Target Field - can mess up their swings, though NL captain Troy Tulowitzki is not one of them. The need for rest by the time mid-July hits is also a factor, according to Tulowitzki, who will be participating in his first derby.

"Some guys don't want to do it, for whatever reason," Tulowitzki told USA TODAY Sports. "Either they're not great home run hitters in (batting practice), or they think it messes them up or maybe their fatigue. The season's long, and you can get all those things that people are sensitive about."

The swing issue seems to be a common theme for some around the league. And it is possible that trying to pop balls up can throw things off a bit.

But Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis, who was eliminated in the second round of last year's Home Run Derby, said hitters take so many swings that if the derby gets anyone in a funk, they're going to come out of it.

Davis acknowledged talk of whether or not his dip in production after last year's All-Star break was due to the derby. He hit .315 with 37 home runs before the 2013 break, and .245 with 16 home runs after.

"To be honest with you, I don't know," Davis said. "But I think if you have an opportunity to do it and you want to do it, you should do it."

Texas Rangers first baseman Carlos Pena he was fine when he did the 2009 Home Run Derby. But in a science as inexact as hitting, there can still be that thought in the back of some players' minds.

"The thought process is: If I go do the Home Run Derby, and I start swinging for the fences, it's going to mess up my wiring," Pena said. "Somehow, someway I'm going to lose that feel that I'm looking for. And there's guys that protect that feel … They don't want to mess with it at all."

Both Davis and Pena said they would do the derby again.

Meanwhile, Tulowitzki said it will probably be about another week before he fills the three remaining slots on his team. The rosters for both leagues will be announced July 7.

At this point, the Colorado Rockies shortstop said he's just taking input from guys and hasn't really picked out anybody, besides Stanton.

"Seeing if anybody (will) vouch for themselves," Tulowitzki said. "Just kind of filling it out, and just taking my time with it actually."

Tulowitzki, who is second in the NL with 18 home runs this season, remains tight-lipped on who he's in talks with.

"I think it's one of those things where you kind of just keep it to yourself until it comes out," Tulowitzki said. "You don't want to disappoint anybody. So I think I'm just waiting a little bit to see who wants to participate first before I throw anybody's name out there."

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig is reportedly interested in joining Tulowitzki's squad but hasn't received an invite yet.

Tulowitzki admitted that it's not easy trying to assemble his roster. There are just four spots to fill besides himself. But there are several worthy candidates.

"It definitely puts more on my plate," Tulowitzki said. "I think I'll be happy once I get there and put the team together and see the guys and just try to have fun with it, not put too much pressure on myself."

Tulowitzki is happy to have Stanton on board already though. He leads the NL with 21 home runs.

"I think everybody wants to see him," Tulowitzki said. "Obviously he's one of the premier power hitters in the game. So no doubt you want him on your team."

On the AL side, Oakland Athletics left fielder Yoenis Cespedes said last week that he would like to defend his derby crown from last year, but whether or not he will go through with it is still up in the air.

If it was up to them, Davis and Pena both said they would like to see Abreu, Trout, Orioles right fielder Nelson Cruz and Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion on the AL Home Run Derby roster.

When the rosters are cemented and the derby finally rolls around, the format will be new.

It will be in bracket format for the first time, five AL players on one side squaring off against their NL counterparts. The number of outs per round is reduced from 10 to seven.

The top first-round batter from both the NL and AL will automatically advance to the third round. Then the second and third place finishers from each league will battle in the second round to determine who faces the top seeds in round three.

Finally, the top player from both the NL and AL will advance to the finals.

"I think it's cool, just because everybody likes to fill out the brackets," Tulowitzki said. "Whether it's the World Cup, March Madness, things like that, people like doing that stuff."

That said, while Pena thinks participating can be a valuable experience, he gets it if some just choose to pass.

"It's a lot of fun, a lot of attention," Pena said. "Sincerely very, very, very cool. It's like when you were a kid. But I understand."